New World Screwworm Grand Challenge

The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Protection Inspection Service announces this funding opportunity to support the sweeping plan to combat New World screwworm (NWS) as described in the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s August 15, 2025, press release, titled USDA Announces Sweeping Plans to Protect the United States from New World Screwworm. Through this Grand Challenge, APHIS is making up to $100,000,000 available to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread.  

APHIS is making rapid progress on the construction of additional sterile insect production facilities with full capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week expected to come online in March 2029. Through the Grand Challenge, APHIS hopes to identify both projects that will augment our rapid response to the growing threat of NWS to serve as an interim step while production increases, but also long-term investments that expand our ability to respond to the parasite now and into the future – technologies that, perhaps, could have applicability with other animal disease response programs.

APHIS will support projects that enhance sterile NWS fly production, develop novel NWS traps and lures, develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutics/treatments in animals, or develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS.

Funding Priorities: APHIS will support projects that:

Topic 1: Enhance sterile NWS fly production.

Topic 2: Develop novel NWS traps and lures.

Topic 3: Develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutic/treatments (i.e. products that could treat, prevent, or control NWS) for animals and that could be stockpiled and used in animals should NWS reach the United States.

Topic 4: Develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS.

Awards are not anticipated to exceed $5,000,000; however, APHIS reserves the right to award proposals in excess of $5,000,000 if the proposal significantly contributes to the prevention of NWS’ northward spread. This anticipated award amount should not deter new innovations; Major projects with a demonstrable ability to rapidly advance animal health outcomes and/or delay the spread of NWS will be considered in excess of this amount. You can See Appendix I for funding priority topics. APHIS may award less than the requested amount for a project. In these cases, applicants may accept or decline the award that is offered. If applicants accept a reduced funding level, applicants will be asked to submit a revised application that addresses reviewer concerns and aligns with the award amount. APHIS will provide additional guidance to applicants in these situations.

Key Dates: Applications must be received through ezFedGrants for non-Federal applicants or via email to [email protected] for Federal and Non-domestic applicants by February 23, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.

Anticipated Award Start Date: APHIS anticipates that work covered under these agreements will start no sooner than May 1, 2026, and no later than June 1, 2026. Projects will end no later than 2 years after the start date, unless otherwise approved in writing by APHIS.

Period of Performance: Projects should be completed within 2 years unless an extension has been approved in writing by APHIS. Pre-award costs and activities are not authorized under this program.

For questions about the NWS Grand Challenge program, this funding opportunity, required documents, or the ezFedGrants application process, please refer to the detailed information provided on the NWS Grand Challenge webpage or contact [email protected].